Apocalyptic disappointment

The extreme nature of millennarian belief, appeals to the acutely marginalized or to unstable personality types. The beliefs are however difficult to sustain and can lead to apocalyptic disappointment when prophecies fail. and These can be associated with short-lived dramas in which true believers shut themselves off from society at large They have been known to seize control of territory and thereby involving non-believers in tragedies which to the believers is the long-delayed fulfillment of prophecy.

In nearly every case of apocalyptic disappointment throughout history, the non-appearance of the promised new world has led a minority of believers to intensify their hatred of the outside world.